Sarfu hails rugby's heroes

CAPE TOWN -- In response to reports in the media over the past few days, the SA Rugby Football Union (Sarfu)‚ motivated its 'Yesterday's Heroes' campaign involving former national players from the pre-unity administrative bodies by way of a press statement yesterday.

The campaign, which will recognise all former national players for their contribution to the game and its history, is the affirmation of a decision taken by the union at its formation in 1991/92.

The then newly-founded Sarfu took a decision that former SA Rugby Board (incorporating the SA Rugby Federation and SA Rugby Association) players and administrators, and former SA Rugby Union (Saru) players and administrators, who qualified for national colours in their respective pre-unity bodies, should be appropriately recognised.

All would therefore qua-lify to be awarded the national colours of Sarfu.

This was later reaffirmed by the Sarfu executive committee at a meeting in 1997 where it was recorded that ex-Saru players, as well as delegates and committee members at national level, who qualified for their national colours, were eligible for Sarfu national colours.

Therefore, the concept of recognising former national players is in keeping with the agreement reached at unity in 1992.

'Yesterday's Heroes' is the first phase of a three-year marketing and communications campaign that aims to position rugby as a national sport.

Sarfu felt it appropriate to involve former national players from the pre-unity bodies. These figures are deemed as being of great influence to the new generation in terms of Sarfu succeeding in widening the rugby support base, a key factor in rugby becoming a national sport.

By honouring these former players, rugby will be closing the chapter on the past and opening a new chapter going into the new millennium. While there is nothing that Sarfu can do to alter rugby's past, there is an important role that past players from all walks of life can play in securing its future.

The banquet in October, is not being funded by Sarfu. It is supported by a core group of sponsors who deem it of such value they wish their brand to be associated with the event. The event also serves as the 2000 SA Rugby Player of Year awards ceremony and will be attended by the current Springbok squad.

The banquet will be a significant step in the establishment of a 'Past Players Club' and the establishment of a 'SA Rugby Hall of Fame', which will serve as a monument to all who have shaped the history of rugby in South Africa.

Other aspects relating to the campaign are the production of a book documenting the full history of SA rugby. -- Sapa